vancouver, tattoo studio, tattoo etiquette (2024)

Let the artist take lead on the design

Most tattoo artists are in fact artists. They want to tattoo you with their own art and not somebody else’s. This isn’t just a creative preference. Tattooers generally have perfected a certain style (or styles). Their best designs and their best execution will be in this style(s). They want to be confident and and proud of your tattoo. That’s not possible if you give excessive direction or if you force the artist outside of his/her core styles. Also, remember that good artists won’t copy another artist’s design so don’t ask.

Don’t send them a picture of another artist’s work and say “I want this tattoo”.

Don’t be surprised if the artist does not want to tattoo in a style that is not his/her own.

Do share reference images for the subject matter you like.

Do share reference images from the artist’s own portfolio and say “I like the style you used here.”

Be as specific as you need to be. Not more or less.

Artists love it when you give them creative freedom but don’t do it unless you really do want them to make all creative decisions. If you have something specific in mind, tell them.

Don’t tell the artist “you have complete freedom” and then come to the shop and make a lot of corrections.

Do tell the artist any specifics you have in mind before he/she works on the design!

New tattoos are always a better option than “adding on” to, or modifying an existing tattoos.

Most artists would rather not work with another artist’s tattoo. It adds constraints to their design potential and it forces them to either: (a) Vandalize an existing, nice tattoo or (b) Have their work seen alongside an existing ugly tattoo. Either way, this won’t be a portfolio piece and won’t get the best work from the artist. Consider: do you really need your existing tattoo to keep growing and becoming more and more of a Frankenstein’s Monster? Or can you offer new real estate to each artist?

Cover-ups are a different story. If you need a cover-up, you need a coverup. Not all artists are technically capable of good cover-ups and not all artists like to do them because of the additional constraint but it’s always worth asking.

Don’t think of your tattoo as a house you are continually remodelling.

Do think of tattoos more like paintings you are commissioning. Give the artist a clean canvas.

Do consider going back to the same artist for modifying or touching up an existing tattoo.

Don’t design by committee

There’s nothing worse than customers who bring an opinionated friend or loved one to “help” them with design decisions. You hired the artist to help you with design. Adding a third party can complicate the already-delicate balance of artist/client in the design process. The more opinions you solicit, the harder and more confusing the process will be. Only you know what you want and the artist can help you.

Don’t bring a friend or spouse to speak for you.

Don’t text photos of the design to friends asking for their opinion.

Do tell your opinionated friends to quiet down if they become too involved in your tattoo design process.

II. The Day of Your Tattoo

Limit your party to yourself + 1 max

Speaking of bringing others with you… consider visiting the shop alone for your appointment. Most shops are limited in their space and cannot accommodate your friends. Not only that, your friends might think it sounds fun to be at the shop while you get tattooed, but it’s not. Your friends will be bored.

Don’t bring extra people with you to be tattooed without asking the shop first. Most shops don’t want your friends sleeping in the waiting area while you get tattooed.

Do limit your party to just you or one other if you must and encourage your friends to go do something while you get tattooed so they don’t sleep in the waiting area.

Let the artist concentrate while you get tattooed

Even the most experienced artists need to limit stressors during their tattooing. Tattooing requires intense concentration. Some artists love to gab while tattooing but others prefer to be quiet. Let the artist take the lead or ask them what they prefer.

Do bring a book to read or movie to watch provided you can do it without moving.

Do let your artist take the lead on whether or not to talk.

Don’t stare at the tattoo while your artist is working. This is stressful.

Don’t talk too much unless your artit is the chatty one.

Sit still!

For obvious reasons, you never want to move while there is a tattoo needle inking your skin. If you might have trouble with pain, consider a numbing cream in advance of getting tattooed (ask your artist first). If you’re jumpy, you’re wasting tattooing time and risking mistakes. Generally though, you’re stressing out the artist which can mean not getting their best work.

Don’t move unexpectedly.

Don’t talk if you’re getting your ribs tattooed.

Do let the artist know if you need to move or stretch.

Do let the artist know If you think the furniture can be adjusted to be more comfortable.

Do consider topical numbing cream in advance of your tattoo if you’re worried about tolerating the pain (ask the artist first though)

Tipping

It is customary to tip tattoo artists just like (in the US) it is customary to tip restaurant wait staff. Because it’s customary, not tipping is seen as a sign of being dissatisfied with your tattoo.

Do expect to tip when budgeting for your tattoo.

Do tip the artist directly and in cash.

Do tip big (e.g. 20%+) if you love your tattoo.

Do talk to your artist whenever you feel something isn’t being handled well (consultation, design, etc). A small tip (or no tip) shouldn’t be the only sign that you are dissatisfied.

There are many different aftercare procedures out there. Always follow the artist’s own aftercare instructions because you and the artist are both responsible for the quality of your tattoo.

Do make sure to get precise instructions for aftercare from your artist.

Do feel OK to ask questions during the healing process if something seems wrong.

Do a little research about healing tattoos to know what’s normal. Scabbing is normal. Ink on the bandage is normal. Looking faded in the first couple of weeks is normal.

Touch-ups

Most tattoos will not need touching up — at least for many years. However, sometimes ink does fall out or fade. This can happen for many reasons. The artist’s tattoo technique matters but it’s just half the story. Healing/fading is also affected by aftercare, your biology, the placement on the body (bendy parts like wrists, elbows, fingers, etc will fade more and faster). Most tattoo artists will touch up their work for free if it’s needed and if it’s not the result of your aftercare. Make sure to ask your artist about touch ups.

Do wait 30 days before even considering a touch-up. Tattoos can look less-than-perfect while healing and need 30 days to be completely healed.

Do take good care of your tattoo following artist instructions and avoiding any strong sun exposure, rubbing, or soaking of the tattoo area while it’s healing.

Don’t expect the tattoo ink to look as vibrant as it did the day of your tattoo. Tattoo ink sits under the top layer of skin so, once healed, you’ll be looking at the ink through the top layer of skin.

Don’t be confrontational with the artist about your touch-up. Your artist cares as much as you do about the tattoo looking great so there’s no reason to take an aggressive posture if you have concerns about your tattoo.

source:https://medium.com/

vancouver, tattoo studio, tattoo etiquette (2024)

FAQs

What's a good tip for a $500 tattoo? ›

“Some tip less, and some are very generous." For instance, you might wonder how much to tip for a $500 tattoo. In this case, tipping anywhere from $75 to $125 would be appropriate. If you're getting smaller art done or maybe a touch-up for $100, tipping anywhere from $15 to $25 fits the bill.

How much should I tip for a 150 dollar tattoo? ›

Many people choose to tip about 20% of the overall price of their tattoo – just like at a barbershop or massage appointment.

How much to tip for $800 tattoo? ›

"While any tip is highly appreciated, a good guideline is to tip 15-20% of the price of the tattoo. However, this amount can be adjusted depending on your personal budget, as well as how happy you are with your tattoo; there definitely isn't a minimum amount," they added.

Is $40 a good tip for $200 tattoo? ›

But as a rule of thumb, a 15-20% tip is usually a good place to start. So, if you spent a total of $200 on a tattoo, tipping anywhere from $30 to $40 shows your artist that you appreciate their handiwork.

Is $50 a good tip for a $250 tattoo? ›

The general consensus in the tattoo community is that 20 percent is the typical amount to tip—just like at a restaurant or a hair salon. However, consider this number a baseline, as some tattoos require more or less work than others.

Is it rude to not tip a tattoo artist? ›

Both Gomez and Dim say that tipping isn't essential, but it is a kind way of showing your artist appreciation for their service and for their work. "I don't believe it's necessary for you to provide a tip. In fact, it doesn't make a difference if you choose not to tip — even if you enjoyed the tattoo," says Dim.

Is $300 an hour a lot for a tattoo? ›

✴ Hourly Rates

Many tattoo artists charge an hourly rate, ranging from $50 to $300 per hour or more, depending on their skill level and reputation.

Do I tip my tattoo artist every session? ›

If you're getting a larger piece that requires multiple sessions, you might be wondering when and how many times you should tip your artist. "Most people tip a little after each session, and then a bigger tip when the project is done," explains Shuliar.

Do you tip for a free tattoo touch up? ›

Plus, many artists offer free touch-ups after the tattoo is completed. (Just make sure to tip your artist, even for a complementary touch-up session!)

Is 150 an hour good for a tattoo? ›

In 2022, Tattoo Artists are Charging ~$150/hr

In the past year, most tattoo artists have increased their prices to $150-$210/hr, depending on location. This is to cover the increasing prices of everything around us (groceries, rent, etc.).

Should I tip my tattoo artist in cash? ›

Cash Is King

Many tattoo shops will ask you to pay cash, so you'll need cash for a tip. In some instances, shops will honor debit and credit cards for the tattoo itself, but you should still tip the artist with cash.

Should you tip tattoo artists in Canada? ›

It is customary to tip tattoo artists just like (in the US) it is customary to tip restaurant wait staff. Because it's customary, not tipping is seen as a sign of being dissatisfied with your tattoo. Do expect to tip when budgeting for your tattoo. Do tip the artist directly and in cash.

Is $1000 too much for a tattoo? ›

A full sleeve tattoo can cost anywhere from $1000 to $6000, depending on the hourly rate of the artist and how much time the art takes to complete.

Should I shave the area before a tattoo? ›

Shaving before a tattoo is essential – it's important to make sure there are no hairs in the way to guarantee a smooth finish and to help prevent the tattoo from becoming infected. Tattoo artists will usually shave your chest, back, or wherever else you're getting tattooed, before inking you.

How much to tip on $500 tattoo reddit? ›

20% to 30%. But most people go with round numbers. A decent tip would be $100, but most people would just round the total up to $600….

What do you tip on a $600 tattoo? ›

Generally, you should tip the tattoo artists around 20% to 30% on top of the final tattoo price. The tattoo community usually presents these numbers as the most common tipping amount. But, 20% or 30% are just the basic numbers; you should always tip taking into consideration all the aforementioned factors.

How much do you tip for a $350 tattoo? ›

According to Pablo Gomez, a Brooklyn-based tattoo artist at Atelier Eva, tipping anywhere from 15 percent to 25 percent of the total cost is considered a good tip — regardless of the type of tattoo you get.

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